14 A BOOK ON ANGLING 



length, enables them to follow the fish and keep over him 

 almost anywhere he may choose to go. As he becomes more 

 tractable they unscrew' andffdrop? off a joint or two, until, 

 having him almost supine, half the rod is thus dropped and the 

 fish is led in by a small light rod of some three or four joints, 

 and of very manageable dimensions. 



Of floats for stream-fishing, I have before said they should 

 be suited to the water. I may now say that there are several 

 sorts, but I never use but two. For heavy streams cork 

 floats of various weights, and tapering gradually both ways 

 to the ends (the longest taper below), and for light streams 

 a porcupine quill. These two can be had of any size, to take 

 fifty shot or five. Floats are also made of quills, tapered and 

 fastened up in lengths, and heavily varnished, and also of reeds 

 of various lengths, etc. ; but although they are very pretty 

 to look at, they do not stand enough wear and tear for my 

 money. (For floats various, see Plate II, p. 49.) " 

 Hooks are of many sorts and sizes, and should be suited 

 to the fish to be angled for. The best size for ordinary roach, 

 dace, and barbel-fishing, whether from the bank or punt, 

 is that which will carry one or two gentles well, and that is 

 from No. 7 to 10. There are a great variety of hooks the 

 Limerick, the Kirby, the sneck bend, and the round bend. 

 The first is sometimes used for bottom-fishing, but more often 

 for fly-fishing. The barb is so rank, however, that it often 

 takes some time to unhook the fish. Of the other patterns 

 it is difficult to decide which is the best. Tastes vary so 

 much that they all have their supporters. Some like the 

 sneck bend, and some the round bend, and some like the 

 old Kirby some modifications of one or the other. I generally 

 use a hook of not quite a round bend, but with the point 

 deflected to the side a little (not too much), and bent inwards 

 the least trifle in the world ; and, added to this, I do not hold 

 with the shank being too short. It is a great fault. 



Having now given an account of general bottom-fishing, 

 I shall proceed to treat of the various fish taken by this means 

 in order, with the plans and baits employed in capturing 

 them, beginning with the easiest of the angler's pursuits, and 

 so working my way through all grades until the proud position 

 of M.A.-ship, or, as the old joke has it, of Senior Angler is 

 reached. 



